I don’t get excited about new drops. I just don’t. I’ve always been pretty patient about getting the yoyos I want. The Gamer by Rain City Skills and Eternal Throw was an exception. I saw it and knew immediately I had to have one.

The recent resurgence in responsive play, particularly responsive metals, is pretty exciting. I began throwing around the time the necessity of modding a yoyo or changing its setup to make it playable was starting to fade out completely. Modern yoyos come out of the box ready to rock and roll. That sort of removes some of the challenge and satisfaction of tinkering with setups and carefully going after your new yoyo with a drill or some sharp object in an effort to achieve a feel that suits your style and needs. It was a way to individualize your yoyo and express yourself in the setup. Part of me is a little sad I didn’t start playing sooner so I could really appreciate more of that and benefit from it.

Fast forward to 2017. Yoyos that require some tinkering seem to be making a comeback. Basecamp introduced the Moonshine (so much fun). Core Co. brought us the Alley Cat (fantastic yoyo). One Drop stepped up with the Deep State (haven’t yet had the pleasure). And now Rain City Skills and Eternal Throw bring us the Gamer. Designed by Justin Scott Larson, a guy who LOVES old school yoyos, the Gamer promises to be fun.

The first thing I noticed while unpacking my Gamer was the crazy amount of stuff that comes with it. You get spare pads, slim and wide bearings, a case, a bottle of thick lube, bearing removal tool, and even decorative Lego pieces to snap onto the hub. All that for $40? Crazy.

The yoyo itself has a sleek, smooth finish but isn’t tacky at all. You can grind with this thing. Out of the box, it’s set up for non-responsive play with a string-centering bearing. The machining appears to be on point and the material used does not appear to be subpar, despite the low price point and generous amount of extras. I was able to get mine half-swapped in silver and black (go Raiders!) and could not find any ano flaws to speak of. Overall, everything you get will be high quality and an extraordinary value.

ON THE STRING:

I spent the first half an hour or so with the Gamer playing it non-responsive. It’s a ton of fun. The spin times are amazingly long for such a small player and the narrow width adds a fresh challenge to worn-out tricks. The binds are super tight with the larger-than-normal custom pads. There’s a little vibe in mine but it’s hardly worth mentioning. The Gamer is not a yoyo you buy if you’re looking for your next dead smooth competition player.

Switching over to responsive play is as simple as swapping out to the slim bearing. The bearing seat is extremely tight. This is not a complaint so much as a heads up. Be patient and use the included bearing tool and the bearing will come right off. Don’t go crazy or you’ll trash a perfectly good bearing.

Responsive play is where the Gamer really shines. The response is silky smooth and ultra- consistent. Stalls are effortless and the weight distribution is awesome for kickflips and dump trucks. I would warn prospective buyers to go easy on your throws. Hard throws on a yoyo with this level of responsiveness pose a huge threat to your knuckles.

If I had to pick one thing to complain about with the Gamer, it would be that it’s too responsive with it’s stock setup. Which really goes to show how spoiled I am as a yoyoer. Some of you will probably really dig it as is. I’m currently working on breaking in the pads to a point where the play is right where I like it and can maintain it with proper amounts of thick lube. I’m also considering other possible setups. Honestly, it’s a real joy to have to actually work at getting a yoyo tweaked and tuned to my personal perfection. I’m enjoying the experience. There’s pleasure in the process.

TO BUY, OR NOT TO BUY:

Both. Maybe. As far as I know, the Gamer is currently pretty much sold out everywhere or at least pretty close to it. As such, there’s a big part of me that hates the idea of players buying something in short supply just to have it. This is a yoyo that’s meant to played, not kept in some case never to see the light of day. With that being said, it’s also a yoyo everyone should experience. It provides an opportunity to go back in time and play like a legend. It demands smoothness and accuracy while punishing your failures. It challenges you in the funnest ways possible while encouraging a whole different world of trick exploration. So, yeah. Buy it. But also play it. If you don’t, get it in the hands of someone who will.

Colorful photos: Trevor Janvier

Not colorful photo: Waylon Crase

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]]>http://www.yoyoskills.com/?feed=rss2&p=20076020076Tregleri – A New Wearable Skill Toyhttp://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20062
http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20062#respondMon, 11 Sep 2017 17:30:52 +0000http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20062Tregleri seems to skirt the line between a fidget toy and and a Skill Toy. It wears like a necklace and comes in a variety of styles. Their least expensive are raw steel, and the more expensive are copper with a patina finish. Plusd a painted version, Powder Coated, and even a glitter style. The idea is simple, make a fashion statement and then just unsnap it and play.

Developed by Zeekio, one of the more inovative skill toy companies, Tregleri seems to be riding on the heels of the begleri craze. Begleri having two weighted beads, and Tregleri featuring three. But they play and look very different. Tregleri are a differnt kind of skill toy, the fashion component seems to be very prominent in their product line. Although for the skill toy purest, the simple steel version may be a better fit.

We’re not sure if this fashonable skill toy will find a large market. But definitely a different kind of toy worth taking a look at.

]]>http://www.yoyoskills.com/?feed=rss2&p=20062020062Ringdama – A unique Skill Toy Inspired by the Kendamahttp://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20052
http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20052#respondTue, 29 Aug 2017 20:06:59 +0000http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20052The Ringdama was invented by professional juggler, Daniel Holzman. With its unique cup design, tethered wooden ball (like a kendama) and adjustable Velcro strap, the Ringdama allows players endless trick possibilities. Worn on your finger like a ring, the Ringdama combines techniques from Yo-Yo, Kendama, Begleri and Poi Swinging into one pocket sized skill toy. A great way for a novice to start to get info Kendama, or a fun change of pace for the kendama player.

If you like fidget gadgets and other portable playthings, you will enjoy learning and mastering the Ringdama. Safe for kids (beyond the age of choking themselves)and challenging for adults, the Ringdama is a creative twist on the classic cup and ball game. Ringdama is not too expensive (under $15) and can be enjoyed by all ages. Nice to see a skill toy designed for everyone, and Ringdama is just that.

]]>http://www.yoyoskills.com/?feed=rss2&p=20052020052Are Kendama dead or just sleeping?http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20047
http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20047#respondWed, 23 Aug 2017 14:01:40 +0000http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=20047As a skill toy wholesaler and retailer, I’ve been involved in kendama for years. About 15 years ago my cousin, who had been living in Japan, came back for a visit. He brought me a gift. Knowing I was a yo-yo and skill toy enthusiast, he brought me this odd wooden toy that I had no idea how to use. It was a kendama. I played with it a little, got nowhere, and relegated it to my skill toy drawer along with my auto return yo-yo and juggling bean bags in the shape of cows.

A few years later, I was at a Juggling convention in Rochester when someone came up to me and showed me a kendama. I regret I don’t recall who it was, but his enthusiasm was contagious. He was nuts for kendama. He was blown away by the fact that I knew what it was and even had one (although I hadn’t touched it in years). When I got home I dug out the old kendama and started playing with it with a newfound interest. It was fun. It was challenging yet doable. It had endless possibilities. By this time youtube was a common place to check stuff out, so I thought I’d look into kendama. Sure enough, I found a few videos by Matt “Sweets” Jorgenson, the man I consider to be the father of the American Kendama Craze. After checking out some of the stuff he was doing with kendama, I was hooked. A few months later while on vacation in the Bahamas, I decided to launch a kendama company. Hence the origin of Bahama Kendama.

Kendama popularity started to grow in 2012, 2013 were great years for kendama. We sold tons of kendama, both wholesale to stores as well as direct online. We came out with new design styles, hydro printing, glow in the dark, hand painted, and the list goes on. We started making all different sizes, small, medium and large, and then extra small and extra large, then extra extra small, and extra extra large (we called that one Kenzilla), and then tried new kinds of materials and different types of kendama, Hardwoods, Acrylic, even Aluminum, and five cup kendama, six whole kendama, and some so wacky they never made it past proto-types. Not to suggest these were all our own ideas, there were probably about ten companies all doing the same kind of stuff, we “borrowed” their ideas, and they “borrowed” ours. But we were all enjoying a booming kendama business. In 2014 it peaked. Holiday season is huge for online retailers, and in 2014 we had one of our best years ever with almost half of our online stores’ sales being kendama.

Then 2015 came around, and kendama sales started to slip. When I say slip, I mean they fell off a cliff. The stores that just few months earlier couldn’t get enough kendama stopped re-ordering, our store sales died, and the boxes of kendama we had in the warehouse started gathering dust. Since we sold all major brands of kendama in our brick and mortar store as well as out online retail store (yoyosam.com), we knew it wasn’t just the Bahama Kendama brand, it was dead across the board. 2015 ended with kendama sales down two thirds over the previous year. 2016 was even worse.

In my years as a skill toy seller, I’d never seen a product get so hot and then die so quick. Popular kendamas that were selling on Amazon for $20 in 2014 were now down to $8 bucks, and less, as desperate retailers were trying to move product. I think it is important to note that I kept watching the kendama community during this time. And it was not dead, there were still committed kendama players putting on events and posting videos. But it wasn’t growing, and they weren’t buying new kendamas. Some smaller kendama companies closed up shop, some of the larger companies dropped their kendama lines. It looked like the end of the American kendama craze. And maybe it is.

But i wanted to end this commentary on what I think is an interesting note. Kendama sales are up about 13% over 2016 so far this year. Maybe this is just a death throe. But maybe kendama is just starting to wake up from a very deep sleep. Fingers crossed.

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]]>http://www.yoyoskills.com/?feed=rss2&p=20047020047World Spin Top Contest – August in Reykjavikhttp://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=19802
http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=19802#respondTue, 17 Jan 2017 01:27:38 +0000http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=19802World Spintop Contest: August 10th to 12th, and the 18th
Reykjavik, Iceland (in conjunction with the World
Yo-Yo Contest).

It consists of a freestyle to music of 3 minutes where the players add
points for difficulty, originality and number of tricks.

The International Top Spinners Association, ITSA (www.spintops.org), a
non-profit corporation, certifies the results.

*I am a member of the YoyoZeekio team. This does not mean I will automatically love every yoyo the company brings to market just because I get one for free. If anything, I am more critical of the product because as a team member I am expected to share these yoyos around at club and contests, participate in the marketing of them, and have my name associated with them. My job is a lot easier if the yoyos are ones I genuinely enjoy.

Specs:

Weight: 64g

Width: 44mm

Diameter: 56mm

Gap: 5mm

Bearing: Flat C

Price: $39.99

The YoyoZeekio Flare is one of my favorite yoyos. I dig the style and the unique combination of materials used in its construction. The overall performance is competition-oriented and killer for speed play. (For a rundown on the flare, go here http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=18995) I received my Flare Ultra without warning and therefore had no preconceived ideas about how it would play. I am always extra skeptical about a new YYZ drop and extra critical since some portion of my reputation is associated with these yoyos. The Flare was well-received and the players who tried it had nothing but positive things to say. Let’s see how the follow-up Flare Ultra compares.

On to the review…

OUT OF THE BOX:

My YYZ Flare Ultra came in a simple white box. No complaints. The retail version may come in the newer, fancier boxes YYZ had been using, but I can’t say for sure. Of the 13 available color combinations (yes, 13!) I was sent the yellow with green rims and pinkish-purple hub with green delrin material making up the last step in the gap. Some of the 13 colors available are really obnoxious in a way I like, including mine. They’re loud, visible, unusual and offer a break from the standard colorways found throughout the industry. The FU is 2.5g lighter than the Flare and 1mm larger in diameter. It has the same aluminum sight lines but with aluminum outer rings as opposed to the stainless steel in the Flare.

ON THE STRING:

As usual, I’m skeptical of any yoyo made from multiple pieces. The chance of vibe and durability issues increases significantly with each part. I’ve played the FU for a few weeks solid now and have put it through what any yoyo I own goes through. It’s hit floors and tables and chairs and ridden around unprotected in a backpack and pocket. And it’s fine. A few marks here and there (see photos) but no vibe or any damage that affects performance. The stock 8-ball bearing is standard fare and performs well, although I may switch out for a Twisted Trifecta to bring down the noise and increase the sleep times a bit. My FU has some vibe but nothing I would consider a deal breaker or want my money back for. I like a little vibe and I would say this yoyo has just enough. On a throw and on the string the FU feels significantly heavier than its 64g spec (more like 66g) thanks to it’s strong rim weight. It’s stable and feels way more relaxed than its predecessor while still being capable of speed combos and horizontal play. Binds are nice and tight with the stock pads, although they did take about an hour to break in. Overall, I found it extremely enjoyable. For me, it’s the kind of yoyo you can throw while listening to some chill electronic grooves, or maybe reggae, if that’s your thing. It’s good yoyo for checking out with some earbuds in and exploring new tricks.

TO BUY, OR NOT TO BUY:

Buy it. At $39.99 it’s great value for a yoyo that will end up high in your rotation. The ability to select from 13 color combinations is a killer selling point, as well. While I can’t say the FU generated a huge amount of excitement in me, it has a really familiar and comfortable feel in a unique package that keeps me reaching for it over some of my other more recent acquisitions.

Matt Hiebert is the designer of Monkey Knuckls, a skill toy licenced to Yomega in 2013. He has been developing toys for over a decade, and started Aroundsquare in 2007. His first successful design was a set of unusual wooden building blocks called TwigI. In addition to his passion for begleri, he is working on a few other skill toy projects, including a bold, high-contrast cardistry deck. He founded his company Aroundsquare in 2007.

You can follow Matt on Instagram: @aroundsquare

Matt is currently making and promoting a very old but mostly unknown skill toy called Begleri. Below is our inverview with Matt.

What is Begleri?

Begleri is a small skill toy made from two or more weighted beads on a short string, which can be flipped around between the fingers to perform tricks. Although begleri looks like a miniature version of meteor hammer or monkey knuckles, the tricks have much more resemblance to balisong flipping and pen spinning.

What is the history of Begleri?

Begleri originated in Greece, as a variation of the Greek rosary or “komboloi”. The komboloi were often flipped around to keep the hands busy or pass the time, and begleri developed as a simplified version that would be more suitable for tricks. From what I understand, historically, begleri were associated with a tough, working-class subculture called manga, and with a distinctive style of music called rebetiko. In modern times, komboloi and begleri both remain extremely popular in Greece, and are growing in popularity worldwide as a fun and simple “every day carry” item. With this proliferation, and the infusion of begleri into other skill toy communities, new and complex styles of play are being developed, referred to as “hard play”.

Are there different kind of Begleri?

A playable set of begleri can be made from almost anything, so there is a lot of variety out there. Traditional begleri were often made from semi-precious stones like amber, or from other valuable or distinctive materials including things like nutmeg, horn, and even camel bone. However, while these materials are reasonably durable, they do not hold up to the hard play style of modern players, and frequent drops on concrete. Modern begleri are being made from a variety of different metals, and other durable materials like those used in knife handles. Another common style of modern begleri is the monkey fist style, made by knotting thick cord around small weights like marbles at either end.

Where is it popular?

Begleri are very popluar in Greece, and have been for decades. Over the past few years they have been growing in popularity outside Greece as well. There is a lot of interest especially in the States, and in Singapore at the moment, but we are filling orders across North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East.

Is there a Begleri community?

There is, and it is growing quickly. The community is mostly active online, and particuarly on Instagram at the moment. There is a very engaged group of players and sellers that regularly exchange tricks, share their collections, sell and trade, and help each other with tutorials. The community is a really interesting mix that includes a lot of very talented balisong flippers, kendama players, cardists, and magicians, as well as people who have never played other skill toys before.

Why do you like BEGLERI? What is the appeal?

I’ve always been into skill toys, but for playing most toys, it’s better to be standing up, and to have both hands free. Some are cumbersome to carry around, and some require a fair bit of space. I immediately took to begleri because I found I could play it pretty much anywhere, sitting or standing, carrying groceries, on the train, etc. And although the toy seems so simple, the skill progression and the complexity of tricks and different styles really drew me in. It’s easy to start and stop playing, there’s no reset when you mess up, and they’re small enough to stick in a coin pocket.

Do you think it will catch on?

I think the fuse is lit. It is already catching on, and the community is growing fast. When you get a set going, it looks pretty cool, and I always have people asking me what it is, and where they can get a set. People are always looking for something fresh, and enthusiasts from other communities are taking an interest. For example, it’s catching on with balisong flippers who want something they can play in public without scaring people, and with kendama players who sometimes want something a bit more portable and discrete. And it’s not either/ or.. It’s easy to just tuck a set in the pocket along with whatever else you are carrying. It’s a great way to pass the time, and lots of us find it helps to settle the nerves and concentrate as well.

Where can someone get it?

Although I’m selling begleri myself, I often recommend people to just string up a few hex nuts and make their own set to begin with. Beyond that, there are lots of individual sellers out there already, mainly on Etsy and Ebay. Some of them are selling traditional Greek begleri, and others are individual makers, turning beautiful sets from fantastic materials on their lathes. The begleri I design and sell are tailored to the skill toy market, and for technical players who want a durable and high performing set. They are available on my site http://www.aroundsquare.com/shop

YoYoSam was the crystal sponsor of this year’s 2016 World YoYo Contest. YoYoSam is located in Fairview PA, just about an hour and 20 min from downtown Cleveland. When I first heard that the WYYC was going to be in Cleveland, I was both exited because it was so close to YoYoSam and also a tad nervous for many of the folks coming from overseas to see… well… Cleveland? Poor Ohio get’s such a bad rap, and I feel bad for judging it so harshly really knowing very little about it. But aside from everything downtown closing early and opening late, I really enjoyed the parts of the city I saw. It was fun being around town to have random people ask you, “Hey, are you doing that yoyo thing?”

Indeed I was. The international Slam got some great folks involved. It was a great way to kick off the contest, with names that we all know and love, and don’t get to see enough of during the actual contest. I could watch Sebby for days, so it was great to have him involved in that type of format. I think the whole Slam got things rolling right away, which I know spectators appreciated. Often things can build so slowly, and you just get too tired by the end of it. (Too tired??? What am I 50?!) No, but it’s true, I try and look at these events from every perspective. From that of the players, the yoyoers, the parents, and just the folks that wonder in.

Don’t forget about the parents! They bankroll a lot of the operation so I think the least we can all do is be considerate of their time too. I think Steve Brown did a great job. The whole event was well organized, and consistent fun. They did a good job moving such a busy contest forward.

So highlights? Proabably the most common question at the YoYoSam table was “what’s the best selling yoyo at the show?” That was an easy one. The Rush.
I lost count as to how many we sold. All of them. (We’ve got more on the way, don’t worry) The prism still seems to sell quite a bit too. That yoyo has really withstood the test of time. iyoyo did really well too! I’ve only just learned about iyoyo, but my guess is we’ll see more and more of them in the coming months!

Favorite performance?

His performance was such an awesome change of pace from the rest of the contest. Easily my favorite.

What did you want to see more of?
AP. I liked a couple of them. I wanted to see more. I think they should be celebrated more because I think then we would see more good performances. It’s a nice crossover into the performance world. It creates a really fun atmosphere for a wider variety of folks, which I think is essential to remember the importance of pleasing the general public too. YoYoers are easy to please, they just want to yoyo. Period. Thats why yoyoing is so great, because that is all we need.

Anything bad?
I was exhausted. But honestly, the World YoYo Contest 2016 was incredible.

Thoughts for next year?
Iceland isn’t really that far, but I’ll be interested to see how that type of place effects the contest. I suspect it will be kind of like a destination wedding. REALLY REALLY fun, but far less people. Which, is okay. I think that the contest will feel quite different. I think that’s the point of moving the contest, mixing it up is a really healthy thing to do. It’s our main thought with the yoyoslam format, just change things up and build from a new foundation. Great things can come from that type of platform.

All in all It was a great event. It’s always great for a primarily online business to connect with customers IN REAL LIFE. With a new website, the new logo, the crystal sponsorship and the internation yoyoslam it was an awesome culmination of new things for yoyosam.

Although, Japan kicked our ass.

p.s. Can we bring these back already!?

p.p.s.
Was there any diabolo?

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]]>http://www.yoyoskills.com/?feed=rss2&p=19708119708Film Review, Throw. A documentary about a Yo-Yo Playerhttp://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=19696
http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=19696#commentsMon, 15 Aug 2016 20:02:09 +0000http://www.yoyoskills.com/?p=19696I recently saw Throw, an award winning short film made by Early Light Media. It’s shot in Baltimore and documents one of the more popular and colorful characters on the Yo-Yo scene, Coffin Nachtmahr .

Throw is a documentary about Coffin, but it’s really about so much more. They present the city of Baltimore in a light that most people don’t often see. They also provide insight into who Coffin Nachtmahr is, what makes him so unique, and his relationship with yo-yoing. Throw reaches beyond Coffin and his unique personal style and exceptional yo-yo skills, and shows us how his journey has been a positive force for people around him.

The film is also shot really well. It shows Baltimore, not as the violent and drug infested city that many have come to expect, but as a really nice city with some great murals, great architecture, a formidable skyline, and perhaps most surprising, lush green parks.

When you first meet Coffin, it’s hard not to be surprised at his appearance (This is true in real life as well as in this film). He looks wild. His creative spirit comes through loud and clear; specifically, his cloths, hair and overall personal style. He is like nobody else I’ve ever met. On top of his personal style, he is a seriously good yo-yo player. This is what makes the movie worth watching. The blend of Coffin’s unique presence, his amazing yo-yo skills, and insight into his journey.

As the movie unfolds you get a strong sense of who Coffin is and how yo-yoing is an integral part of his identity. Coffin explains how discovering yo-yoing had a profound impact on his life. He shares his love of yo-yoing and tells how it filled a void in his life and was a catalyst for positive changes. It helped him gain confidence in his uniqueness, re-direct his life away from negative forces, and find comradery with like-minded people.

His story is not unusual for a black kid who comes from a dangerous city (Baltimore is consistently among the most dangerous cities in the US) with some serious challenges and pitfalls, and emerges as a man who is totally comfortable in his own skin, develops serious yo-yo skills, and ultimately, through this film, serves as inspiration for others

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable parts of Throw is if shows us Coffin’s yo-yoing skills. He explains yo-yoing as “an extension of himself,” and when you see him throw, you totally understand what he means. I think this is what makes the movie so good. It shows a connection between a man and the sport of yo-yoing, and tells the story in an inspiring way that makes for great viewing.

Mitch Silver

The Movie is not available for viewing at this time. But you can see the trailer below.